glucagon

glucagon

[gloo´kah-gon]

a polypeptide hormone secreted by the alpha cells of the islets of langerhans in response to hypoglycemia or to stimulation by growth hormone. It increases blood glucose concentration by stimulating glycogenolysis in the liver and can be administered parenterally to relieve severe hypoglycemia from any cause, especially hyperinsulinism. Because it slows motility of the gastrointestinal tract, it is also used as an aid in gastrointestinal radiography.

glucagon stimulation test a provocative test of growth hormone (GH) function in which the fasting serum level of GH is measured after administration of glucagon.

Patient teaching

☞ Tell caregiver or family member to arouse patient immediately and give additional carbohydrate by mouth as soon as patient can tolerate it.• As appropriate, review all other significant and life-threatening adverse reactions and interactions, especially those related to the drugs and tests mentioned above.

glu·ca·gon

(glū'kă-gon), [MIM*138030]

A hormone consisting of a straight-chain polypeptide of 29 amino acyl residues, extracted from pancreatic alpha cells. Parenteral administration of 0.5-1 mg results in prompt mobilization of hepatic glycogen, thus elevating blood glucose concentration. It activates hepatic phosphorylase, thereby increasing glycogenolysis, decreases gastric motility and gastric and pancreatic secretions, and increases urinary excretion of nitrogen and potassium; it has no effect on muscle phosphorylase. As the hydrochloride, it is used in the treatment of type I glycogenosis (von Gierke disease) and hypoglycemia, particularly hypoglycemic coma due to exogenously administered insulin.

glucagon

/glu·ca·gon/ (gloo´kah-gon) a polypeptide hormone secreted by the alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans in response to hypoglycemia or to stimulation by growth hormone, which stimulates glycogenolysis in the liver; used as the hydrochloride salt as an antihypoglycemic and as an adjunct in gastrointestinal radiography.

glucagon

(glo͞o′kə-gŏn′)

n.

A hormone produced by the pancreas that stimulates an increase in blood sugar levels, thus opposing the action of insulin.

glucagon

[glo̅o̅′kəgon]

Etymology: Gk, glykys, sweet, agaein, to lead

a polypeptide hormone, produced by alpha cells in the islets of Langerhans, that stimulates the conversion of glycogen to glucose in the liver. Secretion of glucagon is stimulated by hypoglycemia and by growth hormone from the anterior pituitary. A preparation of purified crystallized glucagon is used in the treatment of certain hypoglycemic states. Also called hyperglycemic-glycogenolytic factor (HGF).

glucagon (recombinant)

a form of recombinant DNA origin, having the same actions and uses as that of animal origin.

glu·ca·gon

(glū'kă-gon)

A hormone produced by pancreatic alpha cells. Parenteral administration of 0.5-1 mg results in prompt mobilization of hepatic glycogen, thus elevating blood glucose concentration. It is used in the treatment of glycogen storage disease (von Gierke) and hypoglycemia, particularly hypoglycemic coma due to exogenously administered insulin.

[glucose + G. agō, to lead]

glucagon

One of the four hormones produced by the Islet cells of the PANCREAS, the others being insulin, somatostatin and a polypeptide of unknown function. The action of glucagon opposes that of insulin. It causes liver glycogen, a polysaccharide, to break down to glucose, thereby increasing the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. It can also mobilize fatty acids for energy purposes. Glucagon is a 20-amino acid peptide secreted by the alpha Islet cells. A brand name is Glucagen.

glucagon

a polypeptide of 29 amino acids produced by the alpha cells in the ISLETS OF LANGERHANS of the pancreas of vertebrates. Glucagon acts as a hormone, having the opposite effect to INSULIN, in causing the breakdown of liver GLYCOGEN and the release of glucose into the blood.

Glucagon

A hormone produced in the pancreas that raises the level of glucose in the blood. An injectable form of glucagon, which can be bought in a drug store, is sometimes used to treat insulin shock.

glucagon

polypeptide hormone secreted by alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Secretion is stimulated by a decrease in blood glucose level. It elevates blood glucose by promoting glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in the liver and also mobilizes free fatty acids from adipose tissue, having opposite actions at these sites to those of insulin. The ratio of insulin to glucagon secretion appropriately decreases in exercise.

glucagon (gloo´kəgon),

n (hyperglycemic factor, hyperglycemic-glycogenolytic factor [HGF]) a hormone from the alpha cells of the pancreas that raises the blood sugar by increasing hepatic glycogenolysis.

glucagon

a polypeptide hormone secreted by the alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans in response to hypoglycemia or to stimulation by growth hormone. It increases blood glucose concentration by stimulating glycogenolysis in the liver and is administered to relieve hypoglycemic coma from any cause, especially hyperinsulinism.

glucagon diabetes

glucagon elevates blood glucose levels and may contribute to the severity of diabetes if there is already an insulin deficit but it is not necessary to, nor sufficient for, the development of diabetes.

glucagon stimulation test

a provocative test of growth hormone (GH) function in which the fasting serum level of GH is measured before and after administration of glucagon.

glucagon tolerance test

evaluates the insulin response to elevation of blood glucose induced by administration of glucagon. Used in diagnosing hyperinsulinism.

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